Take-up block



H. G. PROCTOR March 3, 1936.

'TAKE-UP BLOCK Filed Jan. 21, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet im refarr HOME? 6. PEOCTOE,

March 3, 1936 H. G. PRQCTQR TAKE-UP BLOCK FiledvJan. 21, 19:55

3 Sheets-$heet 2 HOME? 6. PEQCTQE i mvema March 3, 1936. H. G. PROCTOR TAKE-UP BLOCK 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 21, 1935 176097150 HOME/Q 6}. PEOCTOE,

Patented Mar. 3, 1936 PATENT OFFIE TAKE-UP BLOCK Homer G. Proctor, Waukegan, 111., assignor to The American Steeland Wire Company of New Jersey, a corporation of New Jersey 7 Application January 21, 1935, Serial No. 2,827

4 Claims.

This invention relates to take-up blocks such as are used in wire mills to coil wire aiter various processing operations. Such blocks are customarily rather crude afiairs having numerous projections. They introduce a personal hazard into'themill in that they turn at relatively slow speeds which causes even careful workmen to forget their usual caution and become caught in the parts projecting from the blocks.

One-of" the objects of the present invention is to provide a take-up block which diminishes this hazard, and at the same time facilitates removal of the coiled wire. Another object is to provide a block which is safe in that its friction drive control is associated with the other parts so that a workman need not be subjected to unreasonable-danger while operating it. Other objects may beinferred.

Referring'to the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan of an assembly including blocks embodying the principles of the invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional'elevation taken from the line II'--II in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged side view of one of the blocks.

Figure 4 is a cross-section from the line IV-IV lnFigure 3.

Figure 5' is'a section fromv the line V-V in Figure 4:

Figure 6'is a section from the line VI-VI in Figure 5.

Figure 7 is-an enlargement of a portion of Figure 4;-

The take-up block illustrated by these drawings includes a wheel I providing an outwardly facing peripheral recess 2. A series of radially retractable hooks 3 are associated with the wheel I so as to hold the product being taken up by the block in the recess 2. These hooks, or some other segmental elements, are necessary, except in the case of the split type of block which introduces other hazards. Any such retractable elements of necessity form dangerous projections. With this in mind, the description will be continued.

Studs 4 project outwardly from the hooks 3. These studs may also project inwardly through slots I formed in the wheel I, and they can thus function to mount the hooks. A fiat ring 5 is provided having recesses 6 formed in one of its faces of such shape and pitch as to receive the studs 4 and effect retraction of the hooks 3 when this ring is revolved respecting the wheel I. Also, means are associated with the wheel for revolubly mounting this ring. 5 by one of its The fiat ring 5 has a reduced inner peripheral edge 5, and a series of rollers- 8 are fixed to the wheel and have recessed portions 8 which receive the reduced peripheral edge 5* of the ring 5 so as to revolubly mount the latter in the manher previously described. Furthermore, a fiat annular plate 9 is fixed so as to cooperate with the fiat ring 5 to cover the rollers 8. In the case illustrated, the flat ring 5 is provided with an annular recessed boss 5 into which this plate 9 closely fits.

Should a workman accidentally come into contact with the block, the ring 1 functions as a guard to prevent him from becoming caught by the hooks 3. At the same time this ring functions as an easily handled operating means for turning the ring 5 and efiecting retraction of the hooks 3. During the removal of a coil of wire from the block a workman may lean against the ring I and yet not be injured in case the block 1 should rotate. Since the ring 5 presentsaflat outer face, there is no possibility for the workmans fingers to become injured should he allow them to extend toward the block while grasping the ring I. The plate 9' protects him from being pinched by the action of the rollers 8.

The outer periphery of the wheel I may be strengthened by an annular rib I which may terminate in right angular portions at the hooks 3 so as to function as guides for the latter. Antifriction elements I0 may be provided on both ends of the studs 4 as an aid to easy operation.

A take-up block of this character is commonly friction-driven by means of one or more ropes, which are fixed to the wheel and passed around a. drum. Adjustment is ordinarily secured by means of a screw arrangement which must be op- 1 erated from the rear of the block by means of a screw-driver. This operation further contributes to the workmans danger. The block being described also eliminates this danger by a construction which will now be described.

The wheel I is adapted to be mounted on an axle II of the take-up frame for free respective rotation, and the take-up block includes a drum l2 which is adapted to be fixed to this axle. Screws l3 are mounted by the wheel I at right angles to this drum l2, and nuts [4 areengaged by these screws. Ropes I5 are passed around the drum and have, in each instance, one of their ends fixed to one of the nuts l4 and their other ends fixed respecting the wheel I. Pinions I6 are fixed to the screws I 3 and are engaged by a worm I! so as to form a right angle gearing for tuming the screws. A shaft screw ll outwardly through the wheel 1 within the fiat ring 5 and terminates before passing through the plane of the ring 1, and a handle I9 is fixed to the end of this shaft. This handle I9 is also well within plane of the ring I so that the latter can function to prevent workmen from becoming caught by the former. When it is necessary to adjust the tension on the ropes l5, a workman can turn the screws l3 by operation of the handle I9. Even a careless workman can hardly be injured during this operation because of the protection provided by the ring 1.

I claim:

1. A take-up block including the combination of a wheel providing an outwardly facing peripheral recess, a series of radially retractable hooks associated with said wheel so as to hold a product being taken up by said block in said recess, means for effecting retraction of said hooks, and a ring for operating said means and which is associated with said wheel so as to function as a guard for protecting workmen from said hooks.

2. A take-up block including the combination of a wheel providing an outwardly facing peripheral recess, a series of radially retractable hooks associated with said wheel so as to hold a product being taken up by said block in said recess, studs projecting outwardly from said hooks, a fiat ring having recesses formed in one of its faces of such shape and pitch as to receive said studs and effect retraction of said hooks when the ring is revolved respecting said wheel, means associated with said wheel for revolubly mounting said ring by one of its peripheral edges with said studs in said recesses, whereby said ring presents a fiat closed surface facing outwardly from said wheel, and a ring of a diameter approximately half-way between the inner and outer diameters of said flat ring and which is concentrically fixed to the latter in spaced relationship respecting said flat closed surface.

3. A take-up block including the combination of a wheel providing an outwardly facing peripheral recess, a series of radially retractable hooks associated with said wheel so as to hold a product being taken up by said block inv said recess, studs l8 extends from the' projecting outwardly from said hooks, a flat ring having recesses formed in one of its faces of such shape and pitch as to receive said studs and effect retraction of said hooks when the ring is revolved respecting said wheel, and which has a reduced peripheral edge. a series of rollers fixed to said wheel and having recessed portions receiving said reduced peripheral edge of said ring so as to revolubly mount the latter with said studs in said 7 eral recess. a series of radially retractable hooks associated with said wheel so as to hold a product being taken up by said block in said recess, studs projecting outwardly from said hooks, a fiat ring having recesses formed in one of its faces of such shape and pitch as to receive said studs and effect retraction of said hooks when the ring is re volved respecting said wheel, and which has a reduced peripheral edge, a series of rollers fixed to said wheel and having recessed portions receiving said reduced peripheral edge of said ring so as to revolubly mount the latter with said' studs in said recesses, whereby said ring presents a fiat closed surface facing outwardly from said wheel, a ring of a diameter approximately halfway between the inner and outer diameters of said flat ring and which is concentrically fixed to the latter in spaced relationship respecting said fiat face, and an annular plate fixed so as to cooperate with said fiat ring to cover said rollers, said wheel being adapted to be mounted on the axle said take-up block including, in combination with said combination, a drum adapted to be fixed to said axle, a screw mounted by said wheel at right angles to said drum, a nut engaged by said screw,

4.0 of a take-up framefor free respectiverotation and a rope passed around said drum with one end' fixed to said nut and its other end fixed respecting said wheel, right angle gearing for turning said screw, a shaft operatively associated with said gearing and extending outwardly through said wheel within said flat ring and terminating before passing through the plane of the second named ring and a handle fixed to the end of said shaft.

HOMER G. PROC'IOR. 

